“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets” ~Psalm 50:1

Suffering: Warranted?

No sooner did Job finish crying out to God post-Bildad attack than he get pounced on again by an even more harsh accusatory judge. Enter: Zophar.

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?3 Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.’5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding.Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. ~Job 11:1-6

Zophar begins by saying, basically, “Job, quit your bellyachin’. Stop whining lest you be punished worse.” Although he accuses Job of endless chatter and mocking, he is actually the one speaking empty, unhelpful words and mocking Job. Job never even said his doctrine was pure, but so what if he had? It was! And yes, Job said he was not guilty and defended himself when accused of hypocrisy. Clearly, Job’s life pre-suffering was godly and faithful and that’s all Job was saying. But he never claimed to be sinless and this guy puts words into his mouth, casting his plea for mercy and grace in the worst possible light.

Is this the way to comfort a dying man?! Lord have mercy!

As if that weren’t enough, Zophar insists that when and if God speaks, he conveniently knows exactly what he’ll say, and, of course it will be exactly what Zophar himself would say. Funny how that works, eh? (Incidentally, when God does “open his mouth” it isn’t against Job, rather, it’s against Zophar and his two high-horse friends. And this is where self-righteousness gets us folks.)

According to Zophar, God’s wisdom and understanding is as merciless as he and is waiting in heaven to come down and blast Job. Apparently, in Zophar’s self-righteous, judgmental eyes, Job deserves every bad thing he’s getting. In fact, he deserves much worse!

Zophar’s speech is utterly unbearable for anyone, let alone a man suffering as Job is. Perhaps someone should examine Zophar’s life and revoke his license to speak freely. Nevertheless, he goes on:

“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?8 It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?9 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.10 If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?11 For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?12 But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!

13 “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” ~Job 11:7-20

Next, Zophar mixes some glorious truths of God with some assumptions and some lies. Funny, that’s just what the devil does, too.

He claims that because God is sovereign, he surely knows who is sinning undercover and who really needs to repent. He undoubtedly implicates Job as a mocker, worthless, evil, stupid, unjust, and unrepentant. He arrogantly assumes Job is at fault and deserving of punishment and suffering without so much as asking Job how he’s doing. He assures Job that if he’ll just repent, things will being to go well for him (Job 11:14-20.)

Wow. I don’t even know how to address this kind of heartless attack on one of God’s broken children. How often I’ve worn the crown and paraded as Queen Zophar myself! I only pray I’m never again guilty of taking a position of careless authority over anyone or acting in this way towards another hurting brother or sister. Lord have mercy on us when we put ourselves in the place of God as all-knowing, condescending, self-righteous assumers. If one cannot care, listen, sympathize, or encourage the afflicted, he has no business spouting half-truths, misapplying whole ones, and wrongfully dissecting cause and effect. Instead, perhaps someone should ask the Zophars of the world that which he so arrogantly asked Job:

“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?8 It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? ~Job 11:7-8

The truth is, no one can know what God has chosen not to reveal and, often, human suffering is one of those things. Sleep well, Jobs of the world. If you have examined your life for sin and cannot find just cause for your hard lot, remember Job and know that God is likely displaying your faith and his glory by giving you far more hardship than your guilt deserves.

Don’t feel bad about it. He did the same to his son, your savior, Jesus Christ.